Description:
Amine-based carbon dioxide capture is the most mature technology for reducing flue gas CO₂ emissions. It has been postulated and observed during commercialisation of this technology that significant quantities of waste amines are produced. Further industrial implementation of this technology requires adequate disposal or valorisation options for this waste. This review presents an analysis of seven biological and chemical technologies for waste amine amelioration or valorisation. Of these, the biological treatments are identified as being more mature for industrial application with the capacity for marketable product generation. Slow speed is the main drawback of the biological processes but this does not hinder their commercial viability. Using waste amine for NOx reduction in power stations is a secondary option, where it seems probable that the amount of waste amine generated in the CO₂ capture plant is sufficient to fulfil the DeNOx requirements of the flue gas. This route, however, requires investigation into the impact of waste amine impurities on the power station and the CO₂ capture plant operations.
Description:
Amine-based carbon dioxide capture is the most mature technology for reducing flue gas CO emissions. It has been postulated and observed during commercialisation of this technology that significant quantities of waste amines are produced. Further industrial implementation of this technology requires adequate disposal or valorisation options for this waste. This review presents an analysis of seven biological and chemical technologies for waste amine amelioration or valorisation. Of these, the biological treatments are identified as being more mature for industrial application with the capacity for marketable product generation. Slow speed is the main drawback of the biological processes but this does not hinder their commercial viability. Using waste amine for NOx reduction in power stations is a secondary option, where it seems probable that the amount of waste amine generated in the CO capture plant is sufficient to fulfil the DeNOx requirements of the flue gas. This route, however, requires investigation into the impact of waste amine impurities on the power station and the CO capture plant operations.
Description:
Australia has ample geothermal resource, however, it is of low-grade heat and requires Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Integrating heat recovered via EGS into a lignocellulosic biorefinery opens the avenue for countless opportunities in biomass to products industries. In this study, a biorefinery is modelled that uses heat from a supercritical CO
Description:
Australia has ample geothermal resource, however, it is of low-grade heat and requires Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Integrating heat recovered via EGS into a lignocellulosic biorefinery opens the avenue for countless opportunities in biomass to products industries. In this study, a biorefinery is modelled that uses heat from a supercritical CO
Description:
Climate Change mitigation by adopting renewable energies and the depleting gas reservoirs of Australia’s Gippsland Basin have introduced insecurity in the Australian energy sector. Urgent measures are needed to avoid future grid failures. This study proposes underground storage of biomethane (CH4) to meet peak and backup power demands. The depleted gas reservoirs and coal seams of Gippsland are candidates for such a storage. In this study, a facility converting waste biomass into methane and storing it in depleted gas reservoir for meeting peak/backup electricity demand is modelled and simulated. In the model, 200 t/d of biomass is anaerobically digested into methane. Despite this practicable yet relatively small scale when combined with storage, the facility generates 14,000 t (20 million m3) of methane per year, enough to generate over 80,000 MWh of electricity on demand via fuel cells. These results demonstrate the potential for bio-renewables contributing to large scale power demand.
Description:
Climate change, energy security, pollution and increasing unemployment in the face of automation are four critical challenges facing every region in the twenty-first century, including the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The Valley – location of the largest brown coal deposits and forest industry in the southern hemisphere – is undergoing unprecedented and rapid changes. Its ageing brown coal power plants are retiring and replacements are not planned, leading to job insecurity. Solutions are needed that ensure continued economic activity in the region whilst allowing for the Valley to contribute its fair share in the fight against the climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible local solution that could help tackle these issues of the Latrobe Valley in addition to plastic pollution and energy insecurity. Transitioning from linear to circular materials flow is one possible solution that favours sustainability and job security. Consequently, a multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is modelled, acting as an industrial hub in a potential Latrobe Valley circular economy. This allows for employment creation in the value-addition of its platform chemicals into carbon negative and environment-friendly products. Additionally, such a biorefinery concept has the capacity to tackle Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) industry’s wastes. It is anticipated that any future utilisation of brown coal as an energy vector would entail PCC to ensure carbon neutrality. A PCC industry produces CO2 and amine wastes that require adequate disposal. The modelled biorefinery has the capacity to valorise both. The simulation and the techno-economic analysis show the modelled Carbon Negative Biorefinery consumes 656,000 metric tonnes (t) of pulp logs and 42,000 t of CO2 to produce 220,000 t of succinic acid, 115,000 t of acetic acid and 900 t of dimethyl ether, annually. Biorefinery’s CAPEX and OPEX stand at AU$ 635,000,000 and $ 180,000,000 respectively. The calculated Minimum Selling Price for succinic acid is $ 990/t, only 6.4% higher than a typical biorefinery. Subsequently, biorefinery’s capacity as an anchor tenant is also simulated via technical evaluations of four value-added products: • Poly(butylene succinate) as biodegradable polymer replacing petro-plastics – simulation results show 1 t of succinic acid produces 0.19 t of tetrahydrofuran and 0.44 t of poly(butylene succinate); • Carbon fibre for insulation products, sporting goods and foams – 1 t of lignin and 0.8 t of acetic anhydride produce 0.8 t of carbon fibre; • Succinylated lignin adhesive for replacing urea-formaldehyde in the wood industry – simulation results show the biorefinery concept having the capacity to valorise both waste amine and CO2 from a PCC plant; and • Renewable fuels like hydrogen as energy vectors – a small biorefinery can potentially provide dozens of gigawatt hours of stored power for backup and peak demands, annually. In summary, results of this research are: • A biorefinery can valorise PCC plant wastes; • Multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is economically viable; • Renewable fuels are ideally suited as energy storage vectors for a renewable energy grid both in developing and developed countries; • Bioproducts can reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigate climate change; • Bioproducts can replace petro-products and reduce pollution; • Bioproducts can replace construction industry materials associated with CO2 emissions; • Biorefineries can help a region transition from a linear to a circular economy; and • Circular economies have the potential to generate secure jobs. In conclusion, this research identifies platform biochemicals as potential key drivers in a linear economy’s transition to a circular economy.
Description:
Climate change, energy security, pollution and increasing unemployment in the face of automation are four critical challenges facing every region in the twenty-first century, including the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The Valley – location of the largest brown coal deposits and forest industry in the southern hemisphere – is undergoing unprecedented and rapid changes. Its ageing brown coal power plants are retiring and replacements are not planned, leading to job insecurity. Solutions are needed that ensure continued economic activity in the region whilst allowing for the Valley to contribute its fair share in the fight against the climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible local solution that could help tackle these issues of the Latrobe Valley in addition to plastic pollution and energy insecurity. Transitioning from linear to circular materials flow is one possible solution that favours sustainability and job security. Consequently, a multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is modelled, acting as an industrial hub in a potential Latrobe Valley circular economy. This allows for employment creation in the value-addition of its platform chemicals into carbon negative and environment-friendly products. Additionally, such a biorefinery concept has the capacity to tackle Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) industry’s wastes. It is anticipated that any future utilisation of brown coal as an energy vector would entail PCC to ensure carbon neutrality. A PCC industry produces CO2 and amine wastes that require adequate disposal. The modelled biorefinery has the capacity to valorise both. The simulation and the techno-economic analysis show the modelled Carbon Negative Biorefinery consumes 656,000 metric tonnes (t) of pulp logs and 42,000 t of CO2 to produce 220,000 t of succinic acid, 115,000 t of acetic acid and 900 t of dimethyl ether, annually. Biorefinery’s CAPEX and OPEX stand at AU$ 635,000,000 and $ 180,000,000 respectively. The calculated Minimum Selling Price for succinic acid is $ 990/t, only 6.4% higher than a typical biorefinery. Subsequently, biorefinery’s capacity as an anchor tenant is also simulated via technical evaluations of four value-added products: • Poly(butylene succinate) as biodegradable polymer replacing petro-plastics – simulation results show 1 t of succinic acid produces 0.19 t of tetrahydrofuran and 0.44 t of poly(butylene succinate); • Carbon fibre for insulation products, sporting goods and foams – 1 t of lignin and 0.8 t of acetic anhydride produce 0.8 t of carbon fibre; • Succinylated lignin adhesive for replacing urea-formaldehyde in the wood industry – simulation results show the biorefinery concept having the capacity to valorise both waste amine and CO2 from a PCC plant; and • Renewable fuels like hydrogen as energy vectors – a small biorefinery can potentially provide dozens of gigawatt hours of stored power for backup and peak demands, annually. In summary, results of this research are: • A biorefinery can valorise PCC plant wastes; • Multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is economically viable; • Renewable fuels are ideally suited as energy storage vectors for a renewable energy grid both in developing and developed countries; • Bioproducts can reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigate climate change; • Bioproducts can replace petro-products and reduce pollution; • Bioproducts can replace construction industry materials associated with CO2 emissions; • Biorefineries can help a region transition from a linear to a circular economy; and • Circular economies have the potential to generate secure jobs. In conclusion, this research identifies platform biochemicals as potential key drivers in a linear economy’s transition to a circular economy.
Description:
In this study, a novel biorefinery concept producing carbon fibre-poly(butylene succinate) composite foam (CPC foam) from lignocellulose and CO 2 is modelled. The biodegradable nature of poly(butylene succinate) would allow for easy carbon fibre recovery from the CPC foam for reuse at the end of product lifecycle, thus allowing for a circular materials flow. Technical simulation results show the biorefinery consumes 417 kg of biomass, 33 kg of CO 2 , 86 kg of methanol, 23 kg of acetic anhydride, 130 kWh of electricity and 1166 kW of heat per hour. The facility generates 72 kg of CPC foam, 82 kg of carbon fibre, 24 kg of tetrahydrofuran and 50 kg of dimethyl ether (DME). DME is used to fulfil parasitic electricity requirement. These results demonstrate the technical viability of this biorefinery although, research is needed to reduce parasitic energy demand. This carbon negative biorefinery avoids carcinogens and halogens for polymeric materials synthesis by utilising green chemistry principles and lignocellulose feedstock.
Description:
In this study, a novel biorefinery concept producing carbon fibre-poly(butylene succinate) composite foam (CPC foam) from lignocellulose and CO 2 is modelled. The biodegradable nature of poly(butylene succinate) would allow for easy carbon fibre recovery from the CPC foam for reuse at the end of product lifecycle, thus allowing for a circular materials flow. Technical simulation results show the biorefinery consumes 417 kg of biomass, 33 kg of CO 2 , 86 kg of methanol, 23 kg of acetic anhydride, 130 kWh of electricity and 1166 kW of heat per hour. The facility generates 72 kg of CPC foam, 82 kg of carbon fibre, 24 kg of tetrahydrofuran and 50 kg of dimethyl ether (DME). DME is used to fulfil parasitic electricity requirement. These results demonstrate the technical viability of this biorefinery although, research is needed to reduce parasitic energy demand. This carbon negative biorefinery avoids carcinogens and halogens for polymeric materials synthesis by utilising green chemistry principles and lignocellulose feedstock.
Description:
The production of platform chemicals via carbon negative technologies will play an important role in global efforts to mitigate climate change. Succinic acid biorefineries are commercially mature carbon negative technologies that are plagued with large waste streams in the form of hemicellulose and gypsum. Here, a techno-economic analysis assesses the viability of a succinic acid biorefinery wherein hemicellulose is converted to acetic acid and dimethyl ether, and gypsum generation is avoided. Succinic acid is a feedstock for biodegradable plastics, acetic acid replaces petroleum-derived sources, and dimethyl ether is ideally suited as an energy storage vector. Our novel biorefinery concept presents an innovative integration of commercial technologies including water-splitting bipolar membrane electrodialysis for acid purification. The modelled multiproduct biorefinery (Multi Case)annually consumes 650,000 metric tonnes (t)of pulp logs, 135,000t of methanol, 1,700,000t of water, 42,000t of CO2 and 89 MW of electricity to produce 220,000t of succinic acid, 115,000t of acetic acid and 900t of dimethyl ether. All the parasitic electricity and heat duties are fulfilled within the biorefinery. Results show a CAPEX of AUD $635,000,000, OPEX of $180,000,000 and a succinic acid Minimum Selling Price of $990/t. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of the Multi Case biorefinery model show it is also resilient to price fluctuations.
Description:
The production of platform chemicals via carbon negative technologies will play an important role in global efforts to mitigate climate change. Succinic acid biorefineries are commercially mature carbon negative technologies that are plagued with large waste streams in the form of hemicellulose and gypsum. Here, a techno-economic analysis assesses the viability of a succinic acid biorefinery wherein hemicellulose is converted to acetic acid and dimethyl ether, and gypsum generation is avoided. Succinic acid is a feedstock for biodegradable plastics, acetic acid replaces petroleum-derived sources, and dimethyl ether is ideally suited as an energy storage vector. Our novel biorefinery concept presents an innovative integration of commercial technologies including water-splitting bipolar membrane electrodialysis for acid purification. The modelled multiproduct biorefinery (Multi Case)annually consumes 650,000 metric tonnes (t)of pulp logs, 135,000t of methanol, 1,700,000t of water, 42,000t of CO2 and 89 MW of electricity to produce 220,000t of succinic acid, 115,000t of acetic acid and 900t of dimethyl ether. All the parasitic electricity and heat duties are fulfilled within the biorefinery. Results show a CAPEX of AUD $635,000,000, OPEX of $180,000,000 and a succinic acid Minimum Selling Price of $990/t. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of the Multi Case biorefinery model show it is also resilient to price fluctuations.